NZ618109A - Marker and recovery device - Google Patents

Abstract

A life vest with inflatable arch (32a) secured to the torso of the wearer. The arch is inflatable between a stored position behind the head of the wearer to an inflated position above and forward of the head to allow the wearer to be spotted when floating in water. The device is preferably inflated by pressurised gas canisters (60) secured to the device.

Description

MARKER AND RECOVERY DEVICE CROSS REFERENCE The present application claims priority from US Provisional Application No, 61/493,734 filed June 6, 2011, incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a personal marker and recovery device for waterbome activities.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART When engaged in waterbome activities, such as boating, there is a constant risk of unintentionally falling into the water and being separated from the vessel, To mitigate the risk of drowning, personal floatation devices (PFDs), otherwise known as life jackets, are in widespread use and are responsible for saving countless lives from drowning. The PFDs come in many different configurations but essentially all provide a vest-like structure that fits over the upper torso. The vest is secured by a harness, in the simplest form tie straps, so that | the vest is retained on the upper torso. The vest is buoyant and is effective to mamtain the wearer afloat and face-up in water, | The vest may be naturally buoyant, such as when made with a closed-cell foam, or | may be inflatable to achieve the requisite buoyancy, Inflation may come from a small | pressurized gas cylinder and/or a manual uifllation valve. When properly utilized, the vest is I capable of supportmg the wearer and mamtaimng them afloat in a stable condition | indefinitely. § However, although the PFD supports the wearer, the prompt recovery of the wearer is important due to the exposure to adverse conditions, such as the water temperature and loss of body heat.

Whilst the vests are made from a high visibility material, such. as a day glow orange or other fluorescent material, the rescue of the wearer does depend upon the wearer being visually locatable. in even a relatively small body of calm water, the wearer may not be readily discernable fi-om the general sun'ounding environment, and, if the wearer is unconscious, is not able to attract attention to rescuers through waving and/or shouting. This problem is exacerbated when there is any degree of wave motion and of course the ability to spot an individual from an aircraft is extremely difficult. 22243033.1 Various proposals have been made to enhance the visibility to facilitate rescue, US Patent 3,877,096 to Scesney shows an inflatable floatation device that forms a tetrahedron that can be inflated by a person in distress. This does however require the device to be inflated by the user and remain tethered to the user once deployed.

US Patent 5,800,227 shows a PFD with a folded marker device on the back of the PFD. The marker device may be released. This device however is relatively bulky and may create unbalance such that the face of the wearer is in fact held in to the water rather than supported above the water.

US Patent 3,638,258 discloses a PFD in which an elongate bar is attached to the PFD. The bar may be inflated so that a wand is provided that enhances visibility, The wand is intended to be detachable and therefore its position relative to the wearer may vary, It is object to the present invention to obviate or mitigate the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention a marker and recovery device iacludes a body to be secured to the torso of a wearer. An arch is secured to the body at spaced locations, The arch is extendable from a stored condition to a deployed condition in which the arch extends from the torso of the wearer.

Preferably an attachment is provided on the arch approximate the middle of the arch to facilitate rescue of the wearer.

As a farther preference, the arch in its flaccid state passes behind the head of the wearer and, upon inflation, moves forward of the head to project normally from the torso of the wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS j Embodiments of the invention will now be described byway of example only with reference to the accompanying drawmgs in which: | Figure 1 is a front elevation of a personal flotation device incorporating a marker I and recovery device, j Figure 2 is a front elevation similar to figure 1 showing the personal fbatation | device in a deployed condition. 22243033.1 _ 7 - 8 Figure 3 is a side view of the personal floatation device of figure 1, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a personal floatation device m a uninflated condition.

Figure 5 is a view similar to figure 4 showmg the personal floatation device in a partially inflated position, Figure 6 is a view similar to figure 4 showing the personal floatation device in a fully deployed position.

Figure 7 is a side view of the personal floatation device as deployment is initiated.

Figure 8 is a view similar to figure 7 showing the personal floatation device partially inflated.

Figure 9 is a side view similar to figure 7 showing the personal floatation device fully inflated.

Figure 10 is a view of an alternative embodiment of a marker and recovery device.

Figure 11 is a side view of the device of figure 10.

Figure 12 is a view similar to figure 10 with the marker deployed.

Figure 13 is a side view of the embodiment of figure 12.

Figure 14 is a view similar to figure 10 of a further alternative embodiment.

Figure 15 is a plan view of the embodiment of figure 14,and; Figure 16 is a plan view similar to figure 14 with the marker deployed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring therefore to figure 1, a marker and recovery device is incorporated in to personal floatation device 10. The device 10 has a body formed as a vest 12 dimensioned to cover the upper torso ofawearer. It will be appreciated that the vest 12 will be sized according to the typical dimensions of a wearer and may take many different forms depending on the intended application and the severity of the envu-omnent in which the PFD is to be utilized. In the embodiment illustrated m figure 1, the PFD includes a harness generally indicated at 14 with a buckle 16 to secure the harness around the waist of the weai'er. Leg loops 18 are also provided to farther secure the vest to the user. 22243033.1 _ 3 - Other common personal floatation devices do not utilize the leg loops 18 and the vest 12 may be secured to the torso with simple straps or buckles that pass around the waist of the wearer.

The vest 12 includes a pair of bladders 20 that are sewn into the material of the vest. The bladders 20 are connected to a gas cylinder 22 incorporated into the vest 12, The gas cylinder may be deployed either manually or automatically upon contact with the water to supply pressurized gas into the bladders 20 and inflate the front facing panels of the vest 12.

Additionally, a manual valve 24 is incorporated on the vest to allow manual inflation of the bladders ui the event that the pressurized canister 22 fails to inflate the bladders adequately.

A marker and recovery device in the form of an elongate arch, generally indicated at 30, is secured at spaced locations to the vest 12. The arch 30 comprises a tubular sleeve of air impermeable material. The opposite ends of the sleeve are secured to the vest, one on each of the fi'ont panels 13, and are connected to the pressurized canister 22. The connection to the canister 22 may be through a separate supply line or in directly by connection to the bladder 20. Alternatively, a separate cylinder, indicated in ghosted outline 26, is provided to supply the arch 30 with pressurized gas.

The tubular sleeve 32 is made from a flaccid, impermeable material such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or PVC coated nylon fabric. In a typical application, the sleeve 32 has an overall length of between 24 and 48 inches and a diameter of between 2 and 4 inches. Enhanced visibility may be obtained by increasing the length of the sleeve and arrangements with an overall length of sleeve of 96" and a diameter of 2" have been found to be viable.

As can be seen more clearly in figures 3 and 4, the sleeve 32 is located on the front panels 13 and, when stored, is folded back on itself so as to pass behind the head aperture 15 of the vest 12. Although not shown for the sake of clarity, the sleeve 32 is preferably covered by a detachable panel or strap so that it is securely stored when not in use within the body of the vest 12. The detachable panel is a flap of material sewn to the vest 12 with hook and loop fastener, referred to as Velcro, tabs that locate the panel and maintain it in sitii.

A tab 34 is secured to the sleeve 32 at its midpoint, which coincides with a central position behind the head of the wearer. The tab 34 has a closed opening 36 that is intended to receive a hook or rope allowing the wearer of the PFD 10 to be lifted readily from the water, 22243033.1 _ 4 - As can be seen from figures 3 and 4, prior to deployment, the sleeve 32 is maintained in a stored condition within the vest 12 and does not interfere with normal operation of the wearer. If however floatation is requu-ed from the PFD 10, the pressurized gas 22 is released, causing the bladders 20 to inflate. This may occur prior to immersion in the water or subsequent to immersion in the water depending upon the particular conditions, Inflation of the bladders 20 supplies pressurized fluid to the interior of the sleeve 32 causing the arch 30 to begin inflation. Referring to figures 5 and 7, initial inflation of the arch 30 causes the covering panel to be released and the midpoint of the arch 30 to move fonvard from behind the head of the wearer. Continued inflation of the arch 30 moves the arch progressively forward as seen is figure 8 until it attains a deployed condition where it is fally pressurized and extends normally fi'om the fi'ontpanels of the vest 12. If necessary, additional mflation can be provided from the manual inflation 24 to ensure that the arch 3 0 is fally inflated.

When fully inflated, the vest 12 maintains the wearer face-up in the water. In that position, the arch 30 is projected upwardly and enhances the visibility of the user in the water. With the typical dimensions of the tube, the mid point of the tube is approximately 24 to 48 inches above the torso of the user which facilitates the identification of the user fi'om a distance. It will also be noted that the arch 30 does not interfere with the noimal buoyancy and stability provided by the vest 12 and thereby ensures that the wearer is maintained face- upward in the water, Recovery of the user is facilitated by the provision of the tab 34 which enables the user to be bodily lifted from the water. The tab 34 may be located by a boat hook and a rope attached to the islet 36. Thereafter the wearer may be hoisted from the water and secured on board the rescue vessel.

Deflation of the vest 12 similarly causes deflation of the arch 30 allowing it to be restored for reuse with the vest 12, Various alternative arrangements may be utilized with the vest 12. The arch 30 may be formed as two separate chambers connected at the tab 34 and inflated separately by the bladders 20. As noted above, the sleeve 32 may be inflated by a separate gas supply. The arch 30 may be incorporated ill naturally buoyant PPDs in which case the canister 22 is provided simply to inflate the sleeve 32. If necessary, a passive inflation device, such as a 22243033.1 foam rubber, coil spring or mechanical linkage could be utilized, but a gas inflation device is preferred.

The sleeve 32 may be made to be detachable by providing releasable connectors, such as a zipper, between the sleeve and vest. In this way an existing PFD may be retrofitted with the arch 30, or the arch 30 replaced if necessary, An alternative embodiment that may be utilized in combination with an existing PFD, or on its own where enhanced buoyancy is not required, is shown in figures 10 through 13. Like reference numerals will be used to identify like components with a suffix 'a' added for clarity. [0047J In the embodiment of figures 10 through 13, the arch 30a similar in construction to that described above with respect to figures 1 through 9, is secured to a belt 60 that passes about the torso of the wearer, The belt 60 is secured about the torso by a buckle 62, which is adjustable to provide a snug fit about the torso. The belt 60 may be buoyant to provide some enhanced buoyancy for the wearer, or may be a simple fabric belt when intended for use with an existing PFD.

The arch 3 Oa is formed from the tubular sleeve 3 2a which, as described above, is folded back upon itself and passes behind the head of the wearer. Releasable straps 64 hold the sleeve 32a in place until inflated, The spaced locations at which the arch 30a is secured to the belt 60 are forward of the aims of the user so that inflation in of the arch 30a extends the arch and allows it to move forward to a position in advance of the torso. The disposition of the arch 30a when deployed, as shown in figure 13, is generally normal to the surface of the water in which the wearer is immersed and so projects upwardly from the water.

A farther embodiment is shown in figures 14 through 16 in which like components will be identified with a like reference numeral with a suffix 'b' for clarity. In the embodiment of figures 14 through 16, a belt 60b is utilized, either buoyant or not, and the arch 3 Ob is secured at spaced locations along the belt. A buckle 62b is provided but located at the rear of the wearer. The arch 30b is formed from a tube 34b, as described above, which is folded back on itself along the body of the belt 60b. A detachable flap or strap 64b secures the tube in 34b the folded condition so as to be constrained within the general envelope provided by the belt. 22243033.1 A canister for inflating the tube 34b is secured to the belt as indicated at 26b and upon inflation causes the arch to project forwardly of the wearer. The arrangement shown in figures 14 through 16 may be combined with a PFD to provide a marker and recovery device in addition to the buoyancy provided with the PFD.

It will also be appreciated that various fastening devices may be provided for the vest 12 and that ancillary equipment such as whistles and flashlights may be incorporated mto the vest 12 as is conventional. 22243033.1

Claims (14)

1. A marker and recovery device includes a body to be secured to the torso of a wearer, said body having portions to overlie the front of the torso and an arch secured to the body in a stored condition at spaced locations on said body, said arch being extendable from said stored condition to a deployed condition in which said arch projects from said locations at an angle outwardly from said torso to extend forward of the torso of the wearer.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said arch is inflatable to move between said stored condition and said deployed condition.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said arch, in said stored condition, is folded back on itself to provide a close fit to the torso ofawearer.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein said arch, in its stored condition, is arranged to pass behind a head of a wearer and, upon deployment, moves forward of said head to the deployed condition.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein said body is a vest of a personal floatation device and said arch is secured to said vest at said spaced locations.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said arch is maintained in said stored condition by detachable panels.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein said arch is formed by a tubular sleeve.

8. The device according to claim 7 wherein said sleeve is inflatable to attain said deployed condition.

9. The device according to claim 8 wherein said sleeve is formed from a flaccid, impermeable material.

10. The device according to claim 9 wherein said material is a thermoplastic polyurethane or PVC coated nylon fabric.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein said sleeve is inflated by a pressurized gas canister secured to said body.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said body is a belt secured about the torso of a wearer.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said belt is secured by a fastening.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein said arch is stored along the belt by folding the arch back on itself between said spaced locations.